Gene expression in human mesenchymal stem cell aging cultures: modulation by short peptides.
Ashapkin. Vasily V; Khavinson. Vladimir V; Shilovsky. Gregory G; Linkova. Natalia N; Vanuyshin. Boris B
Key Findings
- All three peptides boosted IGF1 gene activity by 3.5‑5.6‑fold in both aging models.
- KED lowered FOXO1 expression, while KE raised it only in the "stationary" aging condition.
- KED had opposite effects on the TNKS2 gene: it suppressed it in "passage" aging but increased it in "stationary" aging.
- All peptides increased NF‑κB gene expression in both models.
Practical Outcomes
- These results are limited to cell‑culture experiments and do not provide a clear, safe protocol for human use. The peptides work at nanomolar levels, but no dosing, delivery method, or safety data for people are given. For now, the findings are mainly of scientific interest and not directly actionable for longevity or performance hacks.
Summary
In lab-grown human stem cells, three tiny protein fragments (AED, KED, KE) changed the activity of several genes linked to aging, growth, and stress response. The changes depended on how the cells were aged and the specific peptide used, but all were seen at very low (nanomolar) concentrations.
Abstract
Effects of the short peptides Ala-Glu-Asp (AED), Lys-Glu-Asp (KED) and Lys-Glu (KE) on the expression of IGF1, FOXO1, TERT, TNKS2, and NFκB genes were studied in human embryo bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (line FetMSCs) variously aged in "passages" or "stationary" cultures. Both cell aging models were similar in gene expression. The main difference was in the TERT gene expression level, which showed an eightfold increase at the "stationary" aging. IGF1 gene expression levels were very similar in both cell culture aging models, being enhanced by 3.5-5.6 fold upon the addition of the peptides. The FOXO1 gene was expressed twice more actively in the "stationary" than in the "passages" aging model. KED peptide inhibited FOXO1 gene expression by 1.6-2.3 fold. KE peptide increased FOXO1 gene expression by about two-fold in the "stationary" aging model but did not affect it in the "passage" aging model. The most striking difference in the peptide effect on cell aging between "passages" and "stationary" aging models was in the KED effects on TNKS2 gene expression; this expression was inhibited by KED in the "passages" model, while stimulation was observed in the "stationary" model. AED, KED, and KE stimulated expression of the NFκB gene in both models. Thus, the peptides studied at nanomolar concentrations modulate the expression of some genes known to be involved in cell aging.
Study Information
pubmed
2020
2020-05-12T00:00:00.000Z
10.1007/s11033-020-05506-3
17
41